Birr and Tullamore societies in running for total of 10 AIMS Awards

Birr Stage Guild has been nominated for a total of eight awards in this year’s Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS)/HB Awards.

The south Offaly group is joined in the list of award nominees by Tullamore Musical Society, which is in the running for two awards.

The list of nominees was revealed yesterday (Sunday, May 19) at St Michael’s Theatre in New Ross, Co Wexford.

The winners will be revealed at an event in the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney, Co Kerry on June 15.

Birr Stage Guild was given nominations in eight categories for their production of “Oliver!”, which ran in Birr Theatre and Arts Centre last month. Those categories include “Best Overall Show”, “Best Chorus”, “Best Technical (Lighting, Sets and Sound)” and “Best Visual (Costumes, Props, Make-Up and Hair)”.

In addition director Paul Norton has been nominated in the “Best Director” category, John Roe has been nominated for “Best Musical Director”, Michael Donegan has been nominated in the “Best Actor” category for his role as Fagin and Aileen Quaid has been given the nod in the “Best Actress in a Supporting Role” for her turn as Widow Corney.

Tullamore Musical Society meanwhile has been nominated for “Best House Management” for their staging of “Annie Get Your Gun”. The Tribal Dance in that same show has also been nominated in the “Best Ensemble” category.